Stellenbosch - Firefighters across the Western Cape were expected to experience a difficult summer season ahead as dry conditions across the province persist, provincial local goverment MEC Anton Bredell said on Monday.
“Over the past weekend the City of Cape Town suffered a devastating fire in an informal settlement where tragically lives were lost. Elsewhere in the province we have experienced similar events,” Bredell said while launching the “Western Cape Fire Season” in Stellenbosch.
Bredell was referring to five fires in informal settlements in the Cape Pensinsula which claimed the lives of at least six people.
In the early hours of Sunday morning two people died and 1,000 shacks were destroyed during a fire at the Masiphumelele informal settlement. Four thousand people were left displaced.
On Saturday one man died and 500 people were left homeless when a fire broke out in the Joe Slovo informal settlement in Langa.
“Elsewhere in the province we have experienced similar events. I have no doubt that the upcoming season will be a long and hard test for firefighting entities across the Western Cape,” Bredell said.
Bredell said the province’s budget had been increased to provide more resources for fighting fires during the upcoming season.
“We have access to 11 helicopters, four water bombers and eight spotter command and control aircraft this year. The provincial budget has also been increased to accommodate the increased threat assessment,” he said.
Bredell confirmed that Working on Fire, SanParks, Cape Nature, and volunteer firefighters would continue working with municipal fire brigades.
African News Agency
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